NYU President’s Home Covered in ‘Blood’

The home of New York University (NYU) President Linda Mills has been smeared with “blood” as pro-Palestinian protesters continue to rage at college campuses.

Mills has faced heavy criticism since the New York City Police Department (NYPD) arrested a significant number of student protesters who had established an encampment on the campus last week.

The protesters, like others at campuses across the country, are demanding that the university divest in Israel and back a cease-fire as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s military continues its attack on Gaza following the surprise October 7 attack by Hamas.

Multiple videos showing what appears to be blood on the front door and the sidewalk outside of Mills’ New York City home were shared to social media late Tuesday afternoon, alongside indications that the vandalism was directly tied to the protest at NYU.

NYU Spokesperson John Beckman confirmed in a statement to Newsweek that Mills’ home had fallen prey to the “far out-of-line” vandalism on Tuesday, with the NYPD now investigating.

“NYU denounces and is deeply troubled by this incidence of vandalism, and its implications,” Beckman said. “This kind of vandalism is a rarity in our community, and as an act of vandalism, it’s bad enough.”

“But the implication of blood and violence – and potentially a threat – is very concerning,” he continued. “It is far out-of-line with our campus’ tradition of reasoned discourse and non-violence, even in moments of heightened feelings.”

Beckman went on to explain that “a male wearing an N-95 type mask” was suspected in the splashing of “red ink across the front of the building” at around 3 p.m.

“The individual seems to have been acting in concert with another individual who videotaped the vandalism,” Beckman said. “The individual with the paint container dropped it to the sidewalk and then the two of them ran away together into Washington Sq Park.”

“The NYPD was immediately notified, and they are investigating,” he added. “We urge anyone who has information about this incident to come forward and notify the police, or, alternatively, the Department of Campus Safety.”

A video posted by writer Talia Jane to X, formerly Twitter, less than an hour after the reported time of the incident, was shared alongside snippets of a note claiming that “external community members in solidarity with NYU students” were responsible.

The note, which was purportedly sent to Jane with the video, claims that the display of red smears was necessary because Mills and NYU are “complicit in genocide” and have “blood on [their] hands,” while including a call of “long live Gaza.”

Reporter Katie Smith shared a video to X showing what appears to be workers attempting to clean up the mess less than 15 minutes after the time that Beckman said the vandalism had occurred.

Despite repeated reports of antisemitic incidents at the protests and lawmakers promising a “crackdown,” the demonstrations on college campuses only appear to be growing. Over 1,000 student protesters have been arrested on campuses over the past two weeks.

Protesters argue that Israel is committing “genocide” in Gaza. The initial attack by Hamas on Israel killed 1,200 people and resulted in hundreds more being kidnapped, while Israel’s military has killed over 34,000 Palestinians in Gaza since the war began, according to an Associated Press report citing local health officials.